{sisterly love}

Hi! Sorry for the week-long delay.  What a fun, but crazy time.  I decided to completely change our house.  I went through every room and rearranged furniture, added things, purged things, finally unpacked most all of our boxes and even cleared out our garage!  {silent applause...}

Then, this weekend, I got on a plane and headed home to surprise one of my sisters (Suzette)....for her HS Graduation!!  She was definitely surprised... 

{Suzette}

...Her shocked but happy face was more than a million words.  My youngest sister, Liberty, was definitely instrumental in helping arrange all the little details.  Last night was her graduation and she was glowing (and looking much older than just having completed high school).  I'm so glad to have been a part of that moment.

Here are some moments captured after the ceremony...

{My funny, beautiful and smart sisses: Suzette + Liberty}

{The proud parents...}

{the beloved grand-mere: Meme}

{the three of us...}

I'm excited to say that I'll be spending about a month here...and travelling around the area.  Yay for family time!! {...And yay for escaping the Texas heat.} :) I'll try to keep up on my posting, but don't be surprised if it's a bit wrapped up in my travels...

HAPPY TUESDAY! 

xx, Naphtali

{family recipe: sweet treat}

One of my favorite things to do, when visiting my sisters, is to bake! We have certain traditions that have developed over the years, including baking the most delicious coffee cake you'll ever come upon. (Or at least, we like to think so....) :) This family recipe is just too good to keep our own, so I'm going to share it with you.

Oven: 350 degrees

Cake:
1/2 C butter
1C sugar
1 unbeaten egg
3 1/2 C flour
4 1/2 t baking powder
3/4 t salt
3/4 t brandi flavoring
1 1/4 C coffee

Topping: (please note that this makes a lot! we do not use all of the mixture for this cake along...thought it makes a lot, we like to layer the topping into our cake; however, if you prefer a 'less sweet' version, use only what you need.)
2 C brown sugar
2 t flour
8 T butter
2 T cinnamon

*Cream butter & sugar. Add egg and flavoring - blend.
*In a seperate bowl mix all of the dry ingredients. Sift half of the dry mixutre into the creamed sugar, etc. Follow by adding a 1/3 of the coffee.

Alternate dry ingrediants and coffee until mixed (trying to do this in 3 sets, as to not over mix).

*Combine topping ingredients into a small bowl. Mix with hands or fork.

*Grease 9x13 pan. Pour half of the mixture into the pan, sprinkle generously with topping, cover with remaining mixture, and sprinkle top with nearly all of topping (depending on how sweet your want your cake to be).
*Back for about 30-35 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes.
*Enjoy the most MOIST coffee cake you'll ever have!


{Thanks for some fun baking Susie and Liberty. Love you sissies!}

{it's a girl!}

Ami Suma - wall mural, originally uploaded by ooh_food.

I'm officially an Auntie!! My sister just had her little baby...Emily Lynn. I couldn't be more excited and wish that I could fly down to NC to help take care of 'mom' and swoon over 'baby'. I'm already filled with such love for my little niece. {insert sigh here}

Congratulations Sis!!

I think this is a great start to the week...

{I think that little room would be fun for a little girl. So fun!}

{two happy birthdays!!}

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

I couldn't help but share this adorable photo of my grandmother. Happy Birthday my sweet Meme. I love you so much!

Happy Birthday, Krystal!

I love and miss you. Hoping this day is filled with fun surprises. xoxo

{first photo: personal. second photo: etsy}

{quiche for mom}

I can't believe that Mother's Day is this weekend! Not that I'm a mother, myself...but, do I have an AMAZING mom! Flowers are sweet and would be perfect in the photo above, but what I think is even better...is a quiche. 1) I love making quiches (see here and here) and 2) my mom is always on the go and cooks the most amazing meals for everyone. So...what would I do if we lived near? I would bake a quiche, juice some oranges and set the table pretty for some one on one girl talk!

I sure love you mom!


{photo & recipe: martha}

{do I need this? no. do I want this? yes.}

This past weekend, after taking breakfast at a charming Crêperie...

Mister, Brother and my brother's GF all posied* around 23rd. I love visiting Portland. I do. We went in shop after shop, including Paper Source. Of course it's not a new shop to people, but it's a paper shop...and there's something completely wonderful about a paper shop. Be it big, or small I always delight in the little treasures that are cramped together in every little possible place imaginable.

I'm just going to say it: I've never been a big 'butterfly' person. {Well, except when it comes to the name in French. I sort of love, 'papillon'…} But, apparently I liked butterflies on Saturday. Every time I saw the reoccurring theme, my heart smiled. "Oh look at this, honey! Don't you think we need this?" ....and the rest is as you can imagine.
Do I need these? no. Do I want these? yes.




à la prochaine !

{*Yes, yes....posied may seem like a strange word to you, but I had no other way to describe the feeling of walking around. Perhaps I made up the word; I cannot be certain. All I know, is that it exists in my vocabulary...but, that's not saying much, since I apparantly make up words often.}

{may is here}

It's so strange to believe that it's already May! We had so much fun this past weekend, that I hope it's true of the entire month.

Friday night I got home from work and went straight to play tennis with Mister. Soon thereafter, he proposed we go to a Mariner's Game with our dear friends {Scott and Willow}. YAY! Of course I wanted to spend time with them. So...we rushed to get ready and headed down to the ball park. We had great seats. AND, Mister even caught a ball!!! He couldn't have been more thrilled! :)




On Saturday we packed up and went to Portland for the rest of the weekend before my bro moves. It was SO much fun seeing my "little brother" and his gf. We wish it could have been longer than just one night, but at least we had fun! Looking back it was quite "French", the weekend! We had fondue for dinner. Then woke up and went for some awesome crepes and coffee on 23rd. Yumm.


Boston is so far away, but will be sure fun to visit!

{our kitchen}

Anthony and I have yet to take any real photos of our new place...This is in part because, I'd be the only one to even think of it. Why the pics? Well...to share with you all of course! This seems like it would be an easy feat, but alas, I can't find my camera. (shh.) I managed to take a couple of pics with my phone and only took some of the kitchen. So, for now, here are a few of our kitchen.

I was supposed to get to the boxes today as I mentioned earlier...honestly, I made it through two. AND, I didn't even empty them. I was so excited by the memories inside, that I just went through the material, and packed it nicely back up. Hmm. Not the point. But, I'm happy. And ultimately, still lacking a camera. SO...I'll be posting more pics soon, but here's our kitchen for now!

{a NEW start}

Well, I've started a new blog. It's funny really. I love writing, and therefore have found a love for blogging...but, for those of you who faithfully follow my other blog, you will note that I fail to be consistant (primarily because I've been without internet, but that's besides the point). Don't get me wrong. I have much to say...but, though I love the other blog - it's purpose is for things revolving around the kitchen. And, though most of one's life revolves around the kitchen, I wanted to be able to express more day-to-day things with my friends, family and anyone who was just bored and looking for something to read.

THEREFORE, I commenced this new blog. I really do see life as an adventure. The adventure can be seen in the season or more simply in one tiny moment of a larger season.

What season am I in? Good question. It's a season of "new" and dare I say change. I'm a new wife, in a new city, starting (hopefully soon) a new job, looking for a new church, while finding parking on a new street. (Which might not seem that big of deal, but in Seattle...parking is a whole "thing" in and of itself.) Shall I go on? I'm decorating a new home and cooking in a new kitchen...I believe the point is taken.

I'm not complaining...it's all quite fun and yes, adventurous. So, to connect this crazy life with you, this blog has been started. Yes, I have facebook, myspace and even plain old email, and now this!

What am I facing today?

Exactly! So...on with the task at hand.

à la prochaine! (Till next time!)